Prime Ministe Pham Minh Chinh addresses the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington D.C. (Photo: VNA)The following is the full text of the speech.
“SINCERITY, TRUST AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR A BETTER WORLD”
Dear Dr. John Hamre, President andCEO of the Center for Strategic and International Studies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I am very happy to visit the Centerfor Strategic and International Studies for the first time today, though thisis far from the first time I hear of the CSIS, a top American think tank in thefield of foreign strategies and policies and international issues.
Seventy-seven years ago, President HoChi Minh, the national hero of Vietnam and great man of culture, prefaced theDeclaration of Independence establishing the Democratic Republic of Vietnamwith this untarnishable fact: “All men are created equal, that they are endowedby their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life,Liberty and the Pursuit of happiness”. This was the spirit enshrined within the1776 Declaration of Independence of the United States of America; itdemonstrates a common, universal value shared by our two countries and mankindas a whole.
We are all elated to witness theextraordinary growth of the relationship between Vietnam and the US in thethree decades after normalization. That relationship has flourished andblossomed, so to speak, thanks to both sides' efforts, nurtured by sincerity,trust and a sense of responsibility, by sympathy, sharing and mutual respect,pursuant to the interest and desire of the two countries, nations and peoples.Our two sides have overcome differences and reached common foundationalprinciples for this relationship. This was established in the Vietnam – USJoint Vision Statement back in 2015, during the official visit to the US byGeneral Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. The statement stressed, and I quote:“respect for... each other's political systems, independence, sovereignty, andterritorial integrity”
That spirit was also reaffirmed inPresident Joe Biden's letter to General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in 2021, inwhich he stressed that the strong and lively relationship that the twocountries had been building together is grounded in the mutual respect for eachother's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Vietnam highly appreciates theconstant support by the US, over the past years, for a strong and independent Vietnam.Over the course of 27 years following normalization, four consecutive USPresidents have paid visits to Vietnam, each leaving very good impression inthe heart of the two peoples. Since the beginning of President Biden's term,various high-level US officials have visited Vietnam, even during the height ofthe pandemic back in 2021. Among them are Vice President Kamala Harris, andDefense Secretary Lloyd Austin. In November 2011, I met President Joe Biden atthe COP26 in the UK.
The foundation I touched upon havegiven me faith and joy during my first visit to the US as the Prime Minister ofthe Socialist Republic of Vietnam. I thank you, Dr. Hamre, President of theCSIS, for inviting me to our discussion today, taking place in an exceptionallyspecial occasion. And I thank you for your keen interest.
Our discussion is all the moremeaningful, taking place on the eve of the ASEAN – US Special Summit. This isthe first face-to-face meeting since 2016. It demonstrates the determination ofASEAN and US leaders in promoting cooperation for peace, stability andprosperity in the region and the world.
The international landscape iswitnessing deep, rapid and unpredictable changes. All of us, Governments andscholars alike, must step up collaboration, engagement and sharing of ideas tobuild a better world together.
In my remark today, desiring to stressthe importance of sincerity, trust and responsibility for a better world, Iwould like to share with you my thoughts on three things:
First, how Vietnam sees theworld today,
Second, the role of sincerity,trust and responsibility in a turbulent world.
Third, what we need to do inorder to demonstrate sincerity, and bolster trust and responsibility, for abetter world.
Ladies and gentlemen,
1. Into the third decade of the 21st century, peace, cooperation and development remain the ardent desires of thepeoples of the world. Yet these aspirations are facing the most trying timesince the Cold War ended. Globalization, international economic integration andthe world economy itself stand before new opportunities for development,especially with the advancements the Fourth Industrial Revolution brought tothe table. Yet the COVID-19 pandemic, along with geopolitical, geo-economic andtechnological shifts, are creating breakthroughs in the state of the world.There are altogether a lot of unpredictable factors having multidimensionalimpact on the security and developmentalenvironment for various countries, whereinopportunities and challenges are deeply interwoven.
A mere few yearsago few could have foreseen six million would perish due to the COVID-19pandemic. Equally few could have predicted a conflict erupting in the middle ofEurope. These events have caused immense consequences on the security,political , economic and societal landscape of the whole world.
One can say whilethe world is on the whole at peace, there might be localized wars. While it ison the whole in detente, there might be localized tension. While it is on thewhole stable, there might be localized conflicts.
This is giving rise tothe risk of war and instabilities, confronting the world economy with manyhazards. Meanwhile, competition and confrontation are leading todecoupling in politics, security and economy.
On top of this,traditional and non-traditional security challenges, such as climate change,natural disasters, resource depletion, energy, water, food, human andcybersecurity, are still developing in complex ways. This state of affairsgreatly affects various nations and their efforts to realize the UnitedNations' 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
We must, then, be fully aware of bothopportunities and challenges facing peace, cooperation and development in arapidly changing world. Of these two aspects, the challenging side seems to bemore prominent. Our effort for cooperation is required if we are to effectivelytackle it.
From that global and regionallandscape and the reality of Vietnam's diplomatic undertakings thus far, mostrecently its ASEAN Chairmanship in 2020 and Non-permanent membership of theUNSC for 2020-2021, I have the following key observations to share with you.
First, peace, security anddevelopment are organically linked. Peace, security and development of acountry will affect its own neighbors as well as the region and the world.
Second, the interest of eachnation-state must respect the legitimate interest of other states, grounded ininternational law and the UN Charter.
Third, internationalintegration and multilateral cooperation remain an inevitable course if we areto preserve peace, promote growth and advance friendship among nations. Nocountry, no matter how rich or powerful, is able to address everything.Instead, there must be cooperation with other countries, the internationalcommunity and its populace.
Global issues require a globalapproach and international cooperation to settle, in which multilateralism isupheld. For instance, the fight against COVID-19, climate change response, andaddressing resource depletion.
Fourth, all states and nationsdesire a better world and peace and wellbeing for their people. Therefore, wemust place special importance on the human factor, viewing human beings as thecenter, the subject, the purpose and the engine for the development of allcollaboration and partnership in international integration. Whole-of-peopleissues must be addressed with a whole-of-people approach, to encourage theentire people's innovation and cooperation.
Fifth, internationalintegration is, objectively speaking, a matter of course. In this process, eachcountry must rely on its internal strength as a fundamental, strategic,long-term and decisive factor. This must work in concert with its externalresources, as an important, necessary, constant and game-changing element. Or,as we say it, we must know how to combine national power with the power of ourtime in a suitable and effective way.
Ladiesand gentlemen,
2. Sincerity, trust and a sense of responsibility play anessential role in addressing those issues facing the world today. The lack ofsincerity, trust and responsibility is itself one of the causes for tension andconflicts in many places. Deficiency in sincerity and trust is a majorhindrance to cooperation among countries, and to collaboration in responding toregional and global challenges.
Therefore, more than ever, we need topromote the building and cementing of sincerity and trust among countries. Atthe same time, each country need to conduct themselves in a responsible way.Foremost of all, each must respect their own commitments, international law andthe UN Charter, respect the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrityof each other, and respect the chosen political system that another country haschosen and that is supported by its people. They must contribute to the commonwork of the international community according to their own ability. And we mustuphold dialogue to understand each other more, in order to address thedifferences and disputes among states.
Equal and mutually beneficial cooperationon the basis of mutual respect is one of the best ways to settle existingissues among countries and build a better world. Faced with the unpredictableand complex turbulence across the globe, we must think, seriously andresponsibly, so that for no reason shall this paramount avenue be disrupted.Only through sufficient sincerity, trust and responsibility may countries worktogether to address issues substantively and effectively.
ASEAN itself stands testimony to thevalue of trust and responsibility, evident in its contributions to addressingregional and global issues. Located in between the Pacific and Indian Oceans,ASEAN has been making every effort to play a central role in the regionalarchitecture that is taking shape. Its members are joining hands to build anASEAN Community according to its 2025 Vision.
Rooted in the common ground ofsincerity, trust and responsibility, ASEAN is playing its role and making allefforts alongside its partners to build a world and regional landscape for peace,stability, cooperation and development, based on international law and the UNCharter. The ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific stresses openness andinclusivity, based on cooperation and dialogue with all parties concerned.ASEAN has established and is bolstering its network of strategic partnershipswith most of its key partners, including the US. ASEAN hopes to join thesepartners to build sincerity, promote trust, take responsible actions, andadvance cooperation on the basis of respecting the independence, sovereignty,territorial integrity and polity of each other, and respecting internationallaw. It seeks to bolster international cooperation and in this way addressglobal challenges, including COVID-19, climate change, and the need forenvironment protection.
Ladiesand gentlemen,
3. As an active and responsiblemember in ASEAN and the international community, Vietnam always makes everyeffort to contribute to dialogue and cooperation, and stands ready to play anactive and positive role as befit its power and standing.
Those of you who look to Vietnammay ask me, how, then, does Vietnam demonstrate this sense of responsibility inthe wake of regional and international issues?
You would be aware that from the yokeof colonialism Vietnam claimed independence. From a divided country, we standunited today. From a poor country, we are now a medium-income country, and wellon a path to realize the developmental goal of our aspiration. By 2025, Vietnamshall be a developing country with modern-oriented industry, having graduatedfrom lower-middle income. By 2030, it shall be a developing country withmodern industry and upper-middle income. By 2045, it shall be adeveloped, high-income country.
It is important to note that Vietnam'saspiration for development is inseparable from the aspiration for peace,stability, cooperation and development of the entire region and the world. Ihope that the US and other partners would be keen on cooperating with andassisting Vietnam in realizing that strategic vision. At the same time, thiswould open up great opportunities for more comprehensive and deeper cooperationbetween Vietnam and the US, and other countries alike.
Let me now touch on and clarify Vietnam'sviews on demonstrating sincerity, strengthening trust and bolsteringresponsibility in its cooperation with other countries, the region and theinternational community:
First, Vietnam perseveres with itsforeign policy line of independence, peace, friendship, cooperation anddevelopment. It seeks to diversify and multilateralize relations. It is aresponsible member of the international community. Vietnam has always beenconsistent and transparent in making and conducting this policy line.
Second,between independence and dependence, our choice is always independence, in thespirit of “Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom” to quote thegreat President Ho Chi Minh. But between negotiation and confrontation, wechoose negotiation; between dialogue and conflict, we choose dialogue; betweenpeace and war, we choose peace. Between competition and cooperation, we choosecooperation. In case of competition, it must be healthy and equal, andconducted in respect of each other's lawful and legitimate rights andinterests.
Ina world full of turbulence, strategic competition and a great many choices, Vietnampicks no side. Instead it chooses justice, fairness and goodness, based on theprinciples of international law and the UN Charter. It chooses equality, sharedbenefits for all, and win-win for all.
Third,Vietnam is ready to engage in dialogue and cooperation to address differencesand disputes, thus contributing to world peace, stability and development. Atthe same time, we seek to ensure a balance of interest and satisfactory handlingof the concerns of different partners, countries, and the internationalcommunity.
Itis for this reason that in the settlement of disputes and conflicts in theregion and the world, including the East Sea – a critical sea to the countrieswithin and beyond the region – we always seek to maintain peace and stability,ensure the security, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight, preservethe legitimate rights and interest of parties, address disputes throughpeaceful means via dialogue based on respect for international law, especiallythe 1982 (UNCLOS 1982). We stand for theeffective and full observance of the Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and are workingtowards the making of a Code of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (COC)that is concrete, effectual, and in line with international law, including the1982 UNCLOS.
In order to contribute responsibly tocommon international and regional matters, Vietnam takes the initiative to joinand play a role in multilateral mechanisms, especially ASEAN, the UnitedNations, and other regional, inter-regional, and Mekong sub-regionalmechanisms, according to the requirements and our own capability andparticularities.
Vietnamhas been positive, proactive and responsible in its role as a Non-permanentmember of the UNSC, for the terms of 2008-2009 and 2020-2021 both.. Vietnamdirectly takes part in the UN Peacekeeping forces, having sent its servicemento these Missions since June 2014. Late April this year, Vietnam sent a combatengineer team of 184 officers to Abyei, Africa, and a second-level fieldhospital with 63 servicemen, ten of whom are women, to the mission in SouthSudan.
Asa country having undergone, and thus understands the losses from, many wars, Vietnamstands ready to contribute to the reconciliation among countries. Vietnam wasthe venue for the second US – DPRK Summit. Regarding the Ukraine issue, it is Vietnam'sconsistent position to respect the UN Charter and principles of internationallaw, respect the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of states,and to address all disputes through peaceful means without use or threat offorce. Vietnam supports, and stands ready to take part in the effortsand initiatives of the international community in facilitating dialogue amongthe parties concerned in search of a long-term, enduring solution. Vietnam hasprovided 500,000 USD in humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
Duringthe COVID-19 pandemic, while itself facing great hardships, Vietnam stilldonated face-masks and medical equipment to 51 countries, and helped fund theCOVAX Facility. We are very gratefuland applaud the international community, including the US, for donating vaccineto Vietnam in the effort to combat the pandemic, especially its inauguration ofthe USCDC Regional Office for Southeast Asia in Hanoi.
Thoughstill facing a great deal of socio-economic difficulties, Vietnam expressed itsresponsibility and very high determination in climate change response, and willfulfill its pledges under the Paris Agreement in order to achieve net-zeroemission by 2050.
Vietnamhas been vigorously advancing economic, trade and investment cooperation withmost countries in the world. In this effort, Vietnam has negotiated and signed15 Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), opening up a vast market for free trade withmore than 60 countries and partners, including all major economies in theworld. This includes a bilateral Free Trade Agreement with the US. This processdemonstrates Vietnam's responsibility in the conduct of fair and free trade.
Ladies and gentlemen,
4. Vietnam always desires to strengthenits cooperation with the US on the basis of bolstering the trust andresponsibility of both sides, in the interest of the two peoples and of peace,cooperation and development in the region and the world.
Tofulfill its national development targets, Vietnam cannot go alone. To go far,we need friends. It is not only today that Vietnam expresses its desire to workwith the US. President Ho Chi Minh, our hero of national liberation and greatman of culture, from the first days of the new Democratic Republic, expressedthe desire for an equal and comprehensive partnership with the US in hisletters to the US Government. Most remarkably, in his letter dated 16 February1946 to President Harry Truman, President Ho Chi Minh wrote: “Our goal iscomplete independence and comprehensive partnership with the United States.”
Vietnamand the US have gone a long way in the process of expressing sincerity andbuilding trust. First of all, the two sides earnestly joined hands in aconcerted and determined effort to address war legacy issues. Vietnam has beenactive and very effective in its cooperation with the US in the search for USMIAs. Vietnam welcomes the US's efforts to address war legacy issues alongside Vietnam,through dioxin remediation, support for persons with disabilities and AgentOrange victims, removal of UXOs, and cooperation to search for the remains ofVietnamese war martyrs. Going forward, the two sides should continue to advancecooperation in addressing war legacy issues, in order to heal the losses andwounds that the war left behind, and move towards the future together.
Sincethe beginning of normalization in 1995, the relationship between the twocountries has grown steadily across the board:
- Politically, the two sides have been eachother's Comprehensive Partners since 2013 and have seen eye to eye on mattersof principle in this relationship, most importantly being the respect for thepolity, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of each other,mutually beneficial cooperation, and respect for the UN Charter andinternational law.
- Economically, the US is Vietnam's second largestmarket, while Vietnam is the US's ninth largest market. The Vietnam – US TradeAgreement of 2000 was the launchpad that helped take the relationship betweenthe two countries above and beyond. Bilateral trade in 2021, against all oddsdue to the COVID-19 pandemic, reached almost 112 billion USD, increasing byalmost 280 times compared to the 400 million USD back in 1995. Vietnam is also theUS's largest market within ASEAN.
- In education and training, Vietnam has the largest number ofvisiting students in the US among the Southeast Asian countries. Some 24,000Vietnamese students are studying in the US during the 2019-2020 period,contributing a billion dollars to the US economy in this field alone. TheFulbright University Vietnam has provided high-quality human capital in atimely manner to meet developmental needs in many sectors and professions.People-to-people exchanges, most remarkably, are also steadily growing.
- Defense andsecurity cooperation continued to progress through concrete and meaningfulresults, in the spirit of the Joint Declaration and Vision Statement on DefenseCooperation in 2015.
The two countries are also working very well together ona wide range of international and regional issues: from nuclear weaponnon-proliferation, counterterrorism, responding to climate change and sea levelrise, to safeguarding food and water security, safety and security ofnavigation, nuclear security, and the maintenance of peace and stability andpromotion of cooperation in the Asia-Pacific.
5. Given the groundwork of the relationship built over the pastthree decades, we need to build on the sincerity, trust, respect andresponsibility, not only in the shared efforts to address war legacy issues inorder to heal the wounds of both nations, but also to further nurture this bondof collaboration between our two countries. There is much potential to realizeto fulfill the aspiration and interest of both peoples, for peace, stabilityand cooperation in the region and the world. Both sides made a statement assuch during the visit to the US by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in 2015.
The USand many other countries are looking to the Indo-Pacific while Vietnam isstepping up its efforts for its aspirational developmental targets. As such,our two countries are standing on the threshold of new opportunities to takeour Comprehensive Partnership along a stable, long-term, concrete andincreasingly deeper trajectory. Key areas of cooperation going forward areeconomic, trade and investment cooperation, science and technology, the trainingof a highly qualified workforce, and the settlement of international andregional issues.
Along with the traditional areas of cooperation, the two sidesshould look to future-oriented cooperation areas. I wish to especially stressthree critical areas in which there is a great deal of cooperation potentialbetween our two countries going forward – green growth, digital transformation,and supply chain diversification.
Vietnam views greengrowth as a key mission to build a sustainable, in-depth development space forhappiness, for today and more importantly for generations to come. To achieveits pledge of net-zero by 2050, we pay special attention to drawing onresources, science and technologies, and managerial expertise to invest intodeveloping clean energy, modern infrastructure, and sustainable watermanagement.
We also see digitaltransformation as the major driver of the global economy going forward. Vietnamis therefore making all efforts to ride this new wave of digital transformationto forge ahead and narrow the developmental gap. This involves advancingcomprehensive digital transformation through three pillars: Digital government,digital economy, and digital society.
At the sametime, Vietnam is making every effort to take an active part in the globalproduction network and value chain, especially the diversification of supplychains, in order to satisfy the pressing global needs today. Vietnam has been,and will continue to be, a reliable destination for the business community,including US companies, in the effort to diversify and induce sustainabilityand stability in supply chains amidst a turbulent world.
Green growth anddigital transformation are two areas in which the US is among the top of theworld. The US economy is also the largest in the world, with an expansive anddiverse market. This is a solid found for the diversification of supply chainsacross the globe. The combination between US leadership in these importantareas and an increasing vigor and deepening international integration of theVietnamese economy will open up enormous opportunities for cooperation betweenthe two countries and the two sides' business communities going forward.
Ladies and gentlemen,
6. Sincerity, trust and responsibilityare the key for all countries to address outstanding differences and disputesin a turbulent world today. That sincerity, trust and responsibility are also amajor contribution to the strong growth of the relationship between Vietnam andthe US over the last 30 years. I trust that these shall also be importantcontributors to guide, advance, and take the comprehensive partnership between Vietnamand the US to greater, more substantive heights going forward.
GeneralSecretary Nguyen Phu Trong, in his visit to the CSIS in 2015, stressed that thetwo sides need to “set aside the past, overcome differences, build onsimilarities, and look towards the future”. During that same occasion,President Barack Obama stated that the relationship between the two countriesis based on mutual respect and in the interest of both peoples. It is my hopethat all of you – all of us – would stand together and contribute to thebuilding of trust and responsibility between our two countries. Certainly thiswould be a concrete part in the interest of peace, stability, cooperation anddevelopment in the world.
I wish youhealth, happiness and many successes.
Thank you foryour kind attention./."
VNA
